My Photography

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sorry, no sari!

It's a funny thing. To walk down the street in a foreign country and suddenly realize that you know where you are, you know where you are going and this is where you live. This came to me last week as I was walking to meet my fellow knitblogger friend, Rima. And it really is true, I am starting to feel at home. Not always, but sometimes, yes.

Part of that feeling is that we are starting to make friends. I have on several occasions seen people who I have previously met while I am out and around. This is a bit amazing to me in this city of many millions, but there you go. It is a small world after all!

So, we were invited to a wedding. Actually, not the whole wedding, just the reception. We felt very honored to be invited and when we were there we were treated as very honored guests. As we entered (Standard Indian time = 1 hour late) the bride (a co-worker of Bryan's) and groom were just entering. We were shown to our seats as they walked up to a stage and took a seat on a dais. Soon they were standing and a procession of men came on the stage, offering congratulations and then posing, very seriously, for photos and video. Right after them, we were ushered up onto the stage along with the bride's mother and brother (I think...) for the same ritual. I'm afraid I was not able to look very serious as I was enjoying the experience so much.

We were then quickly escorted downstairs where we were served a traditional South Indian wedding dinner. I wish I had a photo that I could share, the food is distributed in specific places on a banana leaf and as in all of South India (to my knowledge anyway) you eat with your fingers. No utensils. Rice, Raita, Sambar (hot spicy tomato soup), etc... eaten with fingers. We did exactly that and I think we even looked fairly okay doing it. It isn't entirely fair as Anna and Bryan both get to practice this every day in their respective cafeterias while I am usually dining on leftovers or peanut butter and banana sandwiches! Anyway, we ate slowly, but finished most of our several servings and then washed our hands and proceeded upstairs for conversation while the wedding procession (of the guests onto the stage as mentioned above...) continued.

We chatted with several people and I flirted with some of the kids...

Somehow, I am a kid magnet and these dears very much enjoyed me taking their photos and then showing them to others.

The other interesting thing about the wedding was that the men were not necessarily dressed up very much. a little, but not much. But the women? The saris were absolutely stunning and they were wearing a lot of beautiful jewelery as well. Even the young girls were in their finery:

Okay- there is no face because it was out of focus and looked very strange! The dress looked fine however. Can't explain it. Next time I wear it I will get Bryan to take many photos so that there is at least one where I don;t look like a space alien!

I'm so glad you got photos of the wedding - Bryan said you might, so I was hoping.

There's a photo of me from college when I knit my first sweater. I told my mom I was working on it, so she asked for a photo, "head and hands showing". You guessed it - there's a photo of me wearing the sweater, head and hands tucked inside the sleeves & neck...

Anyhow, that's a gorgeous dress! Wow! And so cool that you're feeling at home there!

Mmm maybe I wouldn't mind moving to India. That is a lot of India bling on your clothes! Sooo shiiiinyyyyy! :)

I love Indian children, they have the most stunning features from when they are very small. Maybe it is because they don't genetically get as rounded features as other races? Such cuties at the wedding!

You look lovely and it's great to see you having such a good time. I too have worn a sari once or twice and it is much more comfortable than it looks (to us, at least). If you haven't yet been sari-shopping it is an experience I would highly recommend! I'm really enjoying reading your blog - I can definitely identify with your experiences! We've started a blog where we hope to share some of our India adventures (still needs knitting content and photos) - you'll find us at deninbombay dot blogspot dot com

You ate soup with your fingers? While wearing something so beautiful that you wouldn't want to spill anything on it? I'd be nervous even if I ate with a spoon :)

BTW absolutely no offense on the dial-up comment! I get it from my family all the time, they can't believe I only have a 17" computer monitor and tiny tv, too. Especially the guys who always want bigger screens :)

What a BEAUTIFUL shalwar kameeze!!! You may envy my camera, but I ENVY your living in India, getting EXTRAORDINARY fabric and clothes, and being in the country that I wrote my master's thesis about. I am SOOOOOOO JEALOUS!!

You look lovely, btw, and good luck with Sock Madness 2.

I am also glad I found your blog because I love everything India, and it will be nice to read about the experiences of a fellow knit/blogger who lives there.

About Me

Comin' at ya LIVE from China! (shhh.. don't tell)
I am older than I was yesterday but still young at heart. I am a mom to six younger people (aka "kids"). They range in age from 26 to 20. One of them is a boy, erhm- I mean, strapping young man! I love my husband because he is a great guy. I sometimes question my sanity! I (REALLY) appreciate good dark chocolate...